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LGBT Rights: An Important Year Ahead
by David Mixner, Live from Hell’s Kitchen
You have had your break and smiles with the wonderful Congressional victory on beginning the process of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” What a wonderful moment. The last year was an incredible one with the court cases, the victory with DADT and the nation finally coming to terms with the epidemic of LGBT suicide. Finally we are seeing real tangibles from the energy, time and money we are pouring into this epic battle for full equality for LGBT people.
Unfortunately there is no rest for the weary. We have another tough year ahead of us. Every single one of us is needed on the front lines, walking precincts, writing checks and mobilizing their straight family and friends. No one gets an exemption from this battle because we are so close to crossing that line where there is absolutely no turning back the clock. Time for each and every one of us to stand and be counted.
Of course, we have to push to make sure the implementation for the repeal of DADT is moving quickly and without prejudice in any of the announced policies.
We appear to holding our own in protecting marriage equality in New Hampshire and Iowa but we can’t let our vigilance down. We have to be ready to move quickly if our opposition gains a foothold in those states. The Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear the case against marriage equality from Washington, DC this week and that protects us in the District. Their refusal is no small matter.
It’s absolutely essential that we see that our several major court cases, especially the Proposition 8 Case, have the talent and resources needed to assure victory. Write those checks to the Foundation for Equal Rights and let them know we are walking side by side with them in this case.
This year presents opportunities in Maryland, Rhode Island and New York for marriage equality. In all three states we have the chance of gaining, not civil unions, but full marriage equality. While New York is the toughest battle we still are very much in the running with our new governor in office. If Maryland passes marriage equality we most likely will face a referendum to repeal the law. This will be an fierce battle and we must start preparing for it now. Major donors around the country should be pooling their resources and insisting on a professionally run and winning campaign.
Which bring us to our President.
President Obama has indicated and teased us with the fact that in the words of psychic John Edwards he is about to ‘cross over’ to full marriage equality. My guess is we will never hear the words ‘marriage is between a man and a woman’ cross his lips again. Well, Mr. President, now is the time to come on over. If you wait until 2012 you will be in the middle of your re-election and everyone will tell you to stay firm against marriage equality. If you wait until the courts order full equality you will lose your increasing movement toward being a leader on civil rights. If your political aides present you with polls, focus groups and data telling you now is not the time, just ignore them and do what is right. The right time for justice and freedom is always now. Tomorrow means another day of oppression, youth suicides and lost opportunity.
Even more important, Mr. President, if we face a referendum in Maryland we will desperately need not only a statement in support but your actual voice opposing the ballot measure. There is a huge number of progressive voters in Maryland who look to you for understanding the issue and leadership. You saw nationwide the impact your words carry after the Tucson Massacre. We need the exact same moral leadership and voice for marriage equality in our struggle. Now is the time, Mr. President, now.
30 Comments
Good columnbut a little too president-centric for my tastes though.
I’ve seen this same call many times before. The way I see it, the LGBT equality movement doesn’t have a whole lot to do with discussing the President. If an LGBT bill makes it to his desk, he’ll sign. If an anti-LGBT law is fought in the courts, the DOJ will defend it. And there will be the occasional executive action in our favor usually around June. That seems to be the standard modus operandi for this administration.
I’ve seen many calls for pushing President Obama to be a hero we can rally behind, and as many calls for opposing President Obama as some kind of hate-filled super-villain. But we know the administration’s basic game plan by this point, and our attention might be better served by focusing on the governors, or legislators, or citizens in those states where the actual battles will be going on.
Alaways Liked MixnerI’ve always liked David. Thanks for your efforts, man. I appreciate you.
Seriously…What is it with activists like Mixner pushing to get the President to do something monumentally stupid RIGHT BEFORE AN ELECTION?
The Campaign for 2012 begins in 2011 and everyone knows it.
Who exactly is served by having the President take a vote losing stand right at the point when he will need to face voters…and thus costing him the election?
Will it make the LGBT activists simply feel better about having a Republican president knowing that a Democratic president fell on his sword for them?
I don’t think it would be stupid at all,but on the other hand I just see the idea that the president will become immediately very actively engaged on the pro-equality side of the marriage equality debate as very much outside the realm of likely to happen.
Secondedn/t
Maybe it’s just me…Why does David Mixner expect that the president should be a friend? Or even a damn lover? I mean, please, you’d think that he would know better than that.
That’s really not the nature of the institution of the presidency nor do I think that we should approach LGBT rights as if PBO were a friend?
So I guess I’ll be the first……to point out that the passage of ENDA or some workplace rights rights protections appears as invisible to Mr. Mixner in the blinding light of the holy grail of same-sex marriage as it is for HRC and the rest of the elites.
Yes, nicely written to be sure…as long as you’re not factoring in those of us in the 21 states for gays and lesbians and 29 states for transfolks who are lower or middle class and depend on their paychecks in order to survive…and of course, the incalculably larger number of LGBT’s who’s upward career mobility has been slowed or stifled entirely by anti-LGBT discrimination.
Marriage is the icing, equal rights and treatment in the workplace, housing, and government services is the cake. You don’t call the caterer and send out the invites until you first make sure you’ve got a job and a place to live when you come back from the honeymoon.
Obama will NOT endorse equality before 2012.Assuming he’s going to do it at all (a dubious assumption if there ever was one) he’ll wait till after the election, when he’s safe for a second term or safely out of office. Anyone who expects otherwise is blissfully ignoring the pattern of his entire political career.
Thank you for your comment, Mr. Axelrod.
I agreeThe time for freedom and justice is now and not in the future. Indeed, if the Presidents endorses same sex marriage he will be returning to a position he held in the 1990′s when he ran for office in Illinois.
It’s actually 38 states that lack protections for trans people, fwiwhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F…
About Those Checks!Yes! Give as much as you can — think of it as an investment in your future … in all our futures.
Mixner mentions contributing to AFER. I’d definitely add GLAD to that list (what happens in New England helps us all).
Think of your state equality group, of course. But also think strategically, even if limited finances means you send most of your contributions to other states. Because, whatever happens with Perry or Gill or other big cases in the courts today, some states (old south, Utah, etc.) will always lag behind (remember Lawrence?), and some states (Massachusetts, California) will lead us all into full equality.
Regarding ENDA and Marriage EqualityI think gaining marriage equality in Delaware is a good possibility, too.
Regarding a federal ENDA, I too am disappointed that this doesn’t seem to be going anywhere – but that is probably a realistic assessment given our new republican house and the reticence of Obama and the dems to really push it either.
So, we need to win the next few battles that we can.
I don’t think we can afford to prioritize our wish list for equality and then fight our battles sequentially. We can’t decide that ENDA is more important than marriage equality, so we will only fight for ENDA and won’t fight for marriage equality until we get ENDA. We’ll be waiting a very long time.
Also he didn’t say……anything about GENDA in New York, the gender inclusive anti-discrimination bill in Connecticut and in New Hampshire.
Can’t count on anything from the prezI agree with those posting above….T-inclusive non-discrimination should be a no brainer but apparently it is.
As for marriage equality, Mixner failed to mention what is happening right now in Wyoming (several anti gay bills the first likely to pass is to not recognize ss marriages from anywhere) and the continued grumblings from the anit gay crowd in New Hampshire.
Meanwhile here in California, I just found out that I in addition to the federal taxes I paid on the value of my partner’s health benefits, I also paid my employer’s (union) share of Social Security and Medicare tax for which they will take the deduction AND the at the doctor’s office I went to yesterday, 5 years AFTER legal California Domestic Partnerships they STILL do not have a check off for that on the sign in forms. My blood pressure registered a tad high and they know why.
Give of time and money locally and make sure you know where your elected officials stand on your equality.
Of course we can’t count on anything from ObamaBut that shouldn’t stop us from complaining about it.
He’s the President. he’s the one who should show some leadership. The fact that he hasn’t must never stop us from ragging on him for not doing so.
Well, Davidas long as we have a President who defends DOMA in court, I will not be engaged in working for him.
seconded — it was pretty marriage-equality-centric and light on trans rights.
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. Karl Marx
If memory serves Mixner was thrilled by Bill Clinton, who gave us DADT and DOMA, and by JFK, who gave us the Bay of Pigs and Vietnam.
Some people never learn.
Who’s working for him?We work for ourselves.
Always have.
David Mixner = GayKK!Shame on you Pam for supporting this bigoted, Jim Crow in a homo-suit.
FRAUD@donal1944
the man is an opportunist, whiner and a fraud.
BS “leaders” like Mixner are the reason the LGBT movement is
mired in impotence!
That would get 5 stars, Qscribe.
I want ENDA more than anything else here in NCMarriage is not at the top of my list. We have no protections here in NC and it’s not going to come from our legislature. I am appalled at the lack of spine in Congress to address ENDA, which to me is certainly a no-brainer with the public. Again, look at the polls in favor of DADT, and it was like pulling teeth to get what pitiful compromise we have.
Unless the President himself makes ENDA a priority, it’s going nowhere.
So that leaves marriage for the moment. I think Obama’s not going to touch this one either, as 2012 approaches. It will be more than benign neglect, though at some point the press is going to ask him again about his “evolution” on marriage and I loathe to think he’s going to utter his retrograde bullshit answer from the last campaign.
ArizonaDave is right; we cannot afford to prioritize battles on the items we want first, we have to end up going for what can be won — as in 1) whatever Congress can find the courage to actually act upon (with GOP rule in the House, we’re screwed), or 2) put weight behind helping states win some marriage battles AND stop amendment efforts that are coming to the fore (NC isn’t the only state facing this BS).
Maryland too
So Pam…Yes because who needs support from voters in an election year…
At some point you will face the fact that gay marriage is a toxic issue in most of the country.
But hey, I suppose some people prefer to lose elections and have symbolic short term fights instead of taking the long view and focusing on winning.
But then again, not too long ago Pam was saying that the GOP was the LGBT commuity’s new best friend…so surely the House can be expected to repeal DOMA any day now.
the LGBT elite…are so obsessed with marriage that they’ll sacrifice everything else for that goal.
This obsession with marriage is counter productive. Its the one LGBT issue that voters do not support. So naturally, that’s where they want to focus their energy.
He’s smart enough to know…unlike some people…that one does not win elections by supporting postions that voters strongly oppose.
Jake, this is very close to my own opinionSeriously, this thread is sad.
There’s SciFi Geek with the Administration talking points, for one (and he’s done this on every single LGBT issue, not just marriage, and he’s telling outright lies about Pam).
For two, to ask for the President’s support is all fine and good but it’s gonna take a lot more than that. Mixner gets to that point somewhat. I guess.
And why does Mixner seem to expect that the president will behave differenty from every President before him. FDR didn’t move on many issue because it wasn’t politically viable for him to do so.
Harry Truman did move when he had nothing else to lose, really.
Mixner is good for throwing Lyndon Johnson in President Obama’s face but Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson sure wasn’t ready to cede the South in 1957.
Between 1957 and 1964 activists “ripened the time,” they didn’t wait for the time to be ripe. Same thing here.
You deserve to be ignored.Pam never said that. Show me where she wrote that and not in jest.
Various polls have been discussed here and elsewhere showing that the country is moving on this issue.
Furthermore political leaders have influence over opinions of people. Obama could move people. He talked up the debt issue for example (that worked well …).